Nicholls' first home game was special to many

Brent St. GermainSports Editor

Sunday

Sep 26, 2010 at 12:11 AMSep 26, 2010 at 12:12 AM

THIBODAUX – Saturday's game between Nicholls State and Bacone College was a homecoming in more ways than one.After traveling more than 3,000 miles for their first three games, the Colonels finally had a chance to play their first home game of the 2010 season.It also marked the homecoming for two athletes with ties to the area. Bacone wide receiver Derek Cox, a Houma native, had a chance to play a game in front of relatives from Terrebonne Parish. Former Nicholls offensive lineman Jacob Bender, a member of the New Orleans Saints practice squad, was in the stands to watch his alma mater for the first time since finishing his college career in 2006.Finally, Saturday's game marked Nicholls' official homecoming celebration.The Colonels made it a happy homecoming with a 44-28 win over the Warriors."There's no place like home, and we showed it (Saturday)," Nicholls running back Jesse Turner said. "It felt great not being on the road."For first-year Nicholls coach Charlie Stubbs, it marked more than an opportunity to play a game in John L. Guidry Stadium. It was a chance to notch his first win as Nicholls head coach.Stubbs said the support from the crowd of 5,428 played a major role in the Colonels (1-3 overall) getting their first win of the season."I'm pleased with the crowd," Stubbs said. "We had a great crowd, and they were very supportive. I just wish we would have played better, but they will stick with us because we will clean some things up. They were really supportive and helped us rebound in tough situations."After grueling road trips to San Diego State, Western Michigan and South Alabama, linebacker Ed James said playing a home game was exactly what the team needed. James said Guidry Stadium is also a place where the Colonels feel comfortable playing and understand what it takes to win there. Nicholls' last game in Guidry Stadium was a 28-21 win over Northwestern State in the 2009 home finale."Our last home game was a win, so we wanted to bring that momentum into this game," James said. "Playing at home is a big advantage, and that's what we needed coming off three road games. It kind of hurt us being on the road, but being at home kind of rejuvenated us. We were ready to go out there and play."Cox's return to south Louisiana was special because it gave him a chance to play in front of family and friends. He was born in Houma, but at the age of 12, his family relocated to south Texas. At the time, Cox, a member of the United Houma Nation, was a sixth grader at Village East Elementary School in Houma.When he found out Bacone scheduled a trip to Nicholls, Cox said he knew that he wanted to make it special. He led Bacone with six catches for 39 yards."Knowing that I had a chance to come home and see the rest of my family, I knew it was going to be a special trip," Cox said. "As soon as we hit south Louisiana, I smelled the bayou and it brought back many cherished memories of my youth."While Cox's trip was a return to his hometown, Bender's one was a little different. It was a return to a place that helped launch him into the NFL.With the Saints playing at home today against the Atlanta Falcons, Bender said it gave him an opportunity to come back to Thibodaux and watch the Colonels play. He finished practice shortly after noon and made the short drive to Thibodaux for the game."It's great to come back and watch Nicholls play and to see the new offense," he said. "It's a whole new coaching staff, but there are a few guys that I played with that are still here on the coaching staff. It's awesome to be back in Thibodaux."Bender was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL draft by the New York Jets, and he has spent time with the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants.After the Giants released him at the end of training camp, Bender had an opportunity to come back to Louisiana and join the defending Super Bowl champions."For the Saints to bring me down here and give me a shot, it was an opportunity too good to pass up," he said. "I'm happy to be back here. Sean Payton is all about hard work, and he doesn't care where you came from. He expects you to come out and work hard."

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